Scavenging Behavior of the Aquatic Eastern Hellbender Salamander (Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis) in North Carolina

Vertebrates may scavenge, or utilize carrion resources more than has been widely assumed (Devault et al. 2003). While documentation of scavengers in terrestrial and marine systems has received increased attention (Beasley et al. 2015; Davenport et al. 2016), little is known regarding scavengers in freshwater stream systems. Dominant fully aquatic salamanders are important foragers in these systems and may rival the biomass of predatory fish species (Davic and Welsh 2004). One fully aquatic salamander in Appalachian streams, the eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), occurs in NC streams which receive potentially large seasonal influxes of hatchery reared trout (NCWRC 2017). Moreover, few reports exist in the published literature on the food preferences of eastern hellbender salamanders. While hellbender diet is comprised of 90% crayfish based on stomach content analysis (Peterson et al. 1989), a small portion of their diet is thought to include fish or fish bait (Nickerson and Mays 1973). Barring a few anecdotal reports from fisherman, little is known regarding scavenging by hellbenders in NC.